Italy's Berlusconi in prostitution probe

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 file photo, Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi sits as he listen to a speech during the traditional meeting at the Quirinale Presidential palace called to exchange Christmas greetings in Rome. Italy's leading newspaper is reporting that Premier Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation in a prostitution case involving a then-17-year-old Moroccan girl. Corriere della Sera reported online Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, that the 74-year-old premier is suspected of abusing his power in trying to cover up his alleged encounters with the girl, nicknamed Ruby. Berlusconi's office said it had no immediate comment. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
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FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 file photo, Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi sits as he listen to a speech during the traditional meeting at the Quirinale Presidential palace called to exchange Christmas greetings in Rome. Italy's leading newspaper is reporting that Premier Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation in a prostitution case involving a then-17-year-old Moroccan girl. Corriere della Sera reported online Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, that the 74-year-old premier is suspected of abusing his power in trying to cover up his alleged encounters with the girl, nicknamed Ruby. Berlusconi's office said it had no immediate comment. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)
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FILE - In this on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 file photo Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi listens during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, not pictured, during the 28th government consultations of both nations at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Italy's leading newspaper is reporting that Premier Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation in a prostitution case involving a then-17-year-old Moroccan girl. Corriere della Sera reported online Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, that the 74-year-old premier is suspected of abusing his power in trying to cover up his alleged encounters with the girl, nicknamed Ruby. Berlusconi's office said it had no immediate comment. (AP Photo/Shane McMillan, File)— AP

FILE - In this on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 file photo Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi listens during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, not pictured, during the 28th government consultations of both nations at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Italy's leading newspaper is reporting that Premier Silvio Berlusconi is under investigation in a prostitution case involving a then-17-year-old Moroccan girl. Corriere della Sera reported online Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, that the 74-year-old premier is suspected of abusing his power in trying to cover up his alleged encounters with the girl, nicknamed Ruby. Berlusconi's office said it had no immediate comment. (AP Photo/Shane McMillan, File)
/ AP

ROME 
Prosecutors are investigating whether Premier Silvio Berlusconi paid for sex with an underage girl from Morocco and then abused his power in trying to cover up the encounters, officials said Friday.

Berlusconi dismissed the case as "absurd" and said the prosecutors were just jealous they weren't invited to his home for dinner too; the teenager has said she dined at the premier's Milan estate but didn't have sex with him.

"At least my lawyers are happy," Berlusconi quipped in an audio message to his supporters late Friday. "They're sure that with me they'll never be out of work."

The investigation escalated a long history of accusations of sexual and financial impropriety aimed at the billionaire businessman, who has become Italy's longest-serving postwar leader despite corruption trials, international gaffes and political infighting.

The latest allegations come at a moment of particular vulnerability for the blunt-speaking, high-living prime minister. Berlusconi has been politically weakened in recent months by a challenge from an-ex ally, while a law shielding him from two unrelated trials in Milan was significantly watered down Thursday by a ruling of Italy's Constitutional Court.

Still, Italians have proven hard to shock, and Berlusconi inspires both loyalty and fierce opposition. A citizen group called Friday for his resignation but his supporters immediately dismissed the allegations as a baseless, politically-driven attack.

According to a statement by Milan prosecutors, the probe is looking into whether the 74-year-old premier had sex with a 17-year-old nightclub dancer nicknamed Ruby, and then used the powers of his office inappropriately in trying to hide the encounter.

The prosecutors issued a summons Friday for Berlusconi and his lawyers to appear for questioning, the statement said. They also ordered Milan police to search the offices of various people implicated in the case, including a showgirl-turned-politician who is close to the premier.

No date was given, but the ANSA news agency said the questioning might take place next week, and that prosecutors might seek a fast-track trial.

Berlusconi said the timing of the investigation was odd given the Constitutional Court ruling a day earlier, which he said was questionable but nevertheless confirmed the validity of the immunity law.

"I frankly was expecting that they'd wait at least a week before restarting after the court's decision," Berlusconi said late Friday, adding that they had informed him of the investigation Monday night.

"I deduced that they're just jealous and are teasing me for not having been invited as well."

He said he had been placed under investigation more than 100 times, been on trial in 28 cases, paid euro300 million ($400 million) in legal and other fees - and never once been convicted.

"I can't wait to defend myself in court against such absurd accusations," he said. "But I don't think a continued war between politicians and some magistrates is in the country's interests, and for that reason the majority wanted the (immunity) law."

He said the "grotesque and ridiculous" attempts by magistrates to go after him showed the need to urgently "prevent some magistrates from violating the privacy of citizens and compromising their liberty with impunity."